Roby will be given chance to rest in 2016

James Roby

John Yates

Published:12:22Sunday 24 January 2016

SAINTS’ Mr Perpetual Motion - James Roby - will be given the luxury of occasionally putting up his feet during Super League XXI.

The pledge came from his mentor and former team-mate Keiron Cunningham, now in his second year as head coach of his home town club and hoping to improve on last season’s disappointment of losing in both the Challenge Cup and the play-off semi-finals.

I need to give him an opportunity to have break now and then but I know he won’t like it

Keiron Cunningham

Hooker Roby, who made his senior debut against Widnes Vikings in March 2004 and to date has clocked up more than 200 appearances, is also one of most prolific metre makers in the sport - facts which Cunningham will have taken on board.

The head coach said: ‘’I simply can’t keep running him into the ground.

‘’I need to give him an opportunity to have break now and then but I know he won’t like it.

‘’Robes is one or our biggest assets and I have no intention of breaking him. He was hanging on by the skin of his teeth a few times last year.’’

Hopefully, Saints will have a ready-made replacement if needs must in new signing Theo Fages from Salford Red Devils who can also operate at half back and is tipped as a long-term successor to Aussie Luke Walsh

Cunningham said: ‘’Theo is a natural footballer and there are few about unless you look at an Australian club to bring somebody in.

‘’ I sold him to the chairman (Eamonn McManus) and Mike Rush (chief executive) as potentially our scrum half for the next 10 to 15 years.

‘’He is definitely the right kind of player for us and gives depth in certain areas.’’